He, Tarzan
Johnny Weissmuller is probably the most recognizable Tarzan and definitely the hunkiest. One of the world’s best swimmers, he won many Olympic medals and set world records in the sport before he went Hollywood.
Hunks »Johnny Weissmuller
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Books »The Looking Glass War
by John Le Carre (1965)
At this point I really shouldn’t be shocked that I share a common interest: a love of John Le Carre, with those greying men in neckties and with golf habits I always hear about but it still surprises me (Does this mean they’re right about Clive Cussler too?). Le Carre is a magnificent story teller, his world of spies and espionage is uniquely intriguing in that is doesn’t include gadgets, studly men and super villains but rather muddled intelligence, old men with often tired or unforgiving wives, and enemies that are vague at best. In The Looking Glass War, the vagueness couldn’t be more pronounced. Set during the Cold War in a department known only as “The Department”, some sketchy intelligence leads to even an even sketchier mission.
The “heroes” are men who thrived during the War and knew exactly their roles within it but who are now feeling ignored, confused and washed up against the less obvious tactics and rules of a War waged without guns and maneuvering. Out of date on the newest technology, flailing when it comes to covert operations and desperate for the honor and respect their previous positions use to garner, the Department headed by Leclerc is overly zealous to send a man into Germany to investigate some blurry photos with possibly significant implications. The recruited agent, a Polish, well dressed ladies man named Leiser also had his heyday years earlier but is completely unaware that he’s putting his life in the hands of those equally rusty and clumsy. After spending time with the men as they prepare for the mission one can see that tragedy is inevitable.
Le Carre always provides a realistic portrayal of spying, but apparently the frank banality of this one made it less popular than his other novels. I found it compelling and a great study of characters. Even our favorite, George Smiley makes several appearances.
It was adapted into a movie in 1969 starring Anthony Hopkins. In my usual habit, I cast it in my mind with James McAvoy as the young Avery, any actor that looks similar to Marco Pierre White as Leiser, Stephen Frye as Woolcroft, Michael Gambon as Haldane, since Alec Guinness has passed, Sir Ian McKellan as Smiley and for some reason I could only see Magnum PI’s John Hillerman as Leclerc.
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Posted on April 20, 2011
Style Icons: Male »Patrick Kelly
Whimsical Designer
I used to love looking at the Patrick Kelly ads in magazines as a kid. With his signature overalls and upturned baseball hat, his life seemed like a never ending party. His creations, which included lots of embellished tight short mini dresses (he height of what I considered sexy dressing then) seemed like a whimsical collaboration with the world.
Huge sewn on buttons, rainbow tutus, the Eiffel Tower – is it little wonder his designs charmed the likes of Grace Jones and Isabella Rossellini as well as a nine year old fledgling fashion lover?
He breathed so much life into the world of fashion but ironically and tragically was the first celebrity I knew and admired that succumbed to AIDS. It makes me sad still to think of the out of control brilliant fun he’d be adding to fashion week if he were alive today.
The Brooklyn Museum had a retrospective of his career in 2004 but I still feel he’s a bit unsung and forgotten by the upcoming stylish youth.
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Posted on April 19, 2011
Web Sites »Retrospace
Fab Blog
Retrospace is a new discovery for me and a great, constantly updated treasure trove of all things retro: from long forgotten magazines, catalogues, found photographs, TV shows and books. There are also Podcasts that feature old radio ads, novelty songs and other intriguing oddities.
The archives go back three years, so I have only really scratched the surface but I am in love already. Any blog where you can find Mexican porno mags from the 70’s and a history of stewardess outfits through the decades is alright with me. Do set aside some real time to go through it all.
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Posted on April 18, 2011
Spend a Couple Minutes »Get a Baby Hat from Sweetpotatoad
Cute Animal Hats for Babies
There are a number of adorable baby things with animal ears but these hand made ones from Sweetpeatoad Tots are exceptionally cute. This wool lamb hat is the sole reason I don’t want the cold weather to end.
Visit their Etsy Shop – they make a great gift if you have any babies coming into the world soon. Ours was a generous gift from my brother and sister in law. Cute stuff!
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Posted on April 18, 2011
Style Icons: Female »Juliette Lewis
Indie Star and Rocker
Juliette Lewis is one of those are current celebrities that can just get away with anything in my book. Shady business like blue hair, drug addiction, Scientology, and even corn rows abound with her – but I still love the lady, just love her! Any movie is better with her in it and any movie could be improved by a cameo.
Aside from an long film resume that features duds (Starsky & Hutch, The Other Sister) as well as gems (Whip It!, Natural Born Killers, Hysterical Blindness) she is the lead singer of the band Juliette and the Licks where she demands the stage, screaming and Mick Jagger swaggering around while wearing latex panties and kooky head wear.
I could have sworn I made this rock star and original quirky indie icon a style icon, but while linking my last entry I was shocked to not find hide or hair of the entry. Well, now I can make up for the omission.
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Posted on April 18, 2011
Movies »Pale Flower
directed by Masahiro Shinoda (1964)
From the Japanese New Wave movement emerges this hard boiled noir. Pale Flower, of the gambling noir sub genre, is tough, cool, and stylish. Shot in such stark black and white that only slivers of the action are often visible, it takes us on a cold journey to the Tokyo underworld where addiction, desperation, skewed loyalty, and failed redemption run rampant.
It follows yakuza gangster Muraki who has just been released from prison for murder to find his old life changed. His gang’s in a truce with his rivals, he no longer yearns fpr the woman that waited for him, a young man enters his life unexpectedly, as does an strange, beautiful and mesmerizing gambling addict named Saeko.
Muraki is played with calm gravitas who barely registers emotion whether he’s falling in love or some one attempting his assassination. His contorted pain finally reveals itself in a surreal nightmare sequence that will have you wondering if Polanski saw this before making Rosemary’s Baby.
Saeko is equally enigmatic. Wildness and lunacy stir quietly behind her doe eyes. It almost makes you wonder if she were simply perfect casting for her inherent madness or if Mariko Kaga is one fine actress who does more with her vacant eyes than all the smizing in 100 cycles of ANTM (yes, I’ve taken up watching again.)
It’s funny, I usually scoff at remakes, but I often cast them in my head as I watch classics. In this case, I’d move the story to Las Vegas, focusing on rival meth gangs. Titus Welliver would be my lead with Juliette Lewis as his former lover, Joseph Gordon Levitt as his new young friend and, if she can lose the vampiness, Evan Rachel Wood perhaps as the degenerate gambler though I’d consider Amanda Seyfried or Angela Bettis.
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Posted on April 18, 2011
Style Icons: Female »Jerry Hall
Model Mom
After feeling cooped up from winter, I want a Jerry Hall kind of summer. I want it to be Texas-sized. I want to wear my hair big and blond, breast feed wherever I damn please and bray and strut around like I own the world with my awesome husband by my side. Is that too much to ask?
I seem to remember my mom saying Hall was an asshole when I was younger. Not sure if this really happened, but if she did say this, like most celebrities it’s totally likely. But Jerry is an icon, not a person in public eyes and even without the fame, most people can get away with a little more that delicious Southern drawl.
I sometimes wonder how my life would differ with such an accent. I see myself either throwing good love away on a washed up athlete, Tennessee Williams style, or as the trophy wife to some absent man, debating what my next diamond will be (or course, there is no debate, I want a Cartier alligator necklace). But I digress.
As I was saying Hall is an icon, a former Studio 54 hot shot and lover of famous men. Funny though – most people in my generation will only remember her as one of the Joker’s girlfriends “You can’t make an omelet without breaking some eggs”.
Click here for the rest of Jerry Hall
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Posted on April 14, 2011
Recipes »Spaghetti with Ground Lamb and Spinach
from Food & Wine
This Lamb and Spinach Spaghetti recipe won rave reviews and even though I made a ton, not a strand of pasta was left. Lamb lends an earthy taste and makes for a much less greasy meal than if this called for ground beef. Sunny days are not quite here yet, so take advantage of heavy comfort food weather and make this delicious dish.
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Posted on April 13, 2011
TV Shows »Upstairs Downstairs
on PBS
Great grandmothers and I rejoice! A new Upstairs Downstairs! I’ve only seen a portion of the epic first series (I mean, there are only several thousand DVDs to go through) but enough to be excited that it’s come back.
Taking place a few years after the last season ends, it reunites house keeper Rose (played by Jean Marsh, who along with co-star Dame Eileen Atkins, created the series) and 165 Eaton Place. Joining her downstairs are a mischievous maid, a brawl happy footman, a cocky handsome chauffeur, and a tee totalling butler.
Upstairs are Sir and Lady Holland who look good but so far seem drab and the eccentric, well dressed world traveling Lady Maud who brings along a monkey and an Indian secretary.
All the costumes (though Maud’s in particular) are amazing and the decor is grand and lush. There was more than one color scheme already that have me re thinking my apartment.
I am so glad you can still find stuff like this on TV. Somewhere along the way Arts and Entertainment changed from Horatio Hornblower to Pregnant Moms on Drugs. Let’s hope PBS, if it manages to survive the Republicans, never goes down the same road.